Well, we are currently back in Montrose, on the east coast of Scotland. I wish I could say there were better reasons for us being here, but there are not.
IN a word or two, one of the crew went a little mad yesterday. That's the short version, and me being no doctor can't say what the reason was. But that is in effect, what happened.
It all began yesterday afternoon; we were working, which is unusual, but the forecast was wrong, and we deployed all the kit to survey with. And one of the nightshift came up to say he could hear music in his cabin. Well, drums and singing. It was investigated, and no one else could hear anything. So, he was moved cabins to one where he could not hear music.
About an hour later, he came back up to say that demonic women were singing to him, meaning he could not sleep. At this point the seriousness of the situation ht home. We were 12 hours from port, and this guy was losing it.
Vasily was, or is Russian, and it soon became clear we had to get him to port and hospital. He was confined to his cabin whilst we got ready to head back west. As it happenes the weather turned and so we could not work.
We too it in turns to guard his room to make sure he stayed there, and I got one of the first shifts. He was a troubled man; one of the other Russian guys was reading from the Bible. (This is not going to be an anti religion rant). He was terrified, holding his head and trying to run away from the voices. At one point he tried to make his escape, and I looked into his eyes. Ever looked into the face of madness? His eyes cried with pain of things I know not.
In the 12 hours it took to get back, he helpd imaginary conversations with his family who he thought were there; in fact he thought he was back home in Russia. He changed flights back home on his mobile, arranged to meet peopel, all while we were well out of phone contact.
Waiting for us were the police and an ambulance to take him to Dundee. He thought he were home and just waiting for a taxi. We are all shocked, and just numb after seeing a nice gy, go, well, crazy. He may have been in a an accident on the way from the airport at the weekend, but when we asked him he thought he was back home and we were his parents.
So, he is now in hospital, were are in port, and have to wait for a replacement for him to arrive. This has stunned us all, to see someone talking to imaginary people, to see demons jumping on his bed. And this is the first week at sea. Just 5 to go.
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read more blogs!
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KnittinKitten
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Nov 29 @ 7:03PM
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I cannot really find "proper" words for a comment, but, thoughts that immediately come to mind fright, dealing with the unknown, and thankfulness, that it wasn't happening to a friend or a loved one. Do you have any idea of the outcome? The lack of closure doesn't help much either.
Thanks for your blog. Sometimes it helps to describe something like this, and, it certainly is helpful to others, to know that things like this do happen.
Sincerely,
JUDY  
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redtigr
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Nov 29 @ 8:55PM
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How sad for this poor man... I cannot help but wonder if he had a history of schizophrenia. It must have been quite an unnerving experience!
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enigmasrook
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Nov 29 @ 9:01PM
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wow jell......reading your blogs is like listening to a Gordon Lightfoot song.  Kudo coming your way.  I love your compassion.....jools is a lucky girl.
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